Question

A compound is found to be 3 percent hydrogen, 32 percent phosphorus, and 65 percent oxygen. What is the empirical formula of this compound?

Answer 1

First assume you have 100 grams of compound.
3% hydrogen=3/1=3 moles
32% phosphorous=32/31=1.03 moles
65% oxygen=65/16=4.0625

So ratio is 3:1:4
H=3
P=1
O=4

Now we will add these numbers as empirical formula
So H3PO4 is empirical formula..

Answer 2

I divided them by their molecular masses..

Answer 3

@Ryaan good work up
but they are not molecular mass they are atomic mass :)